the man who invented fantasy
By Dan SINYKIN
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We now return to our regularly scheduled programming…
Well, it’s been a year since the last RoL. A lot happened in the space between but this space is not the platform to divulge in such things. So, we move forward. Though in this instance I am looking backward. Kind of.
In a previous life, I ran with my fellow enthusiasts of nerd culture at Del Rey Books, purveyors of some of the best in science fiction, fantasy, horror, graphic novels, and licensed products of all things geek. We’re talking properties such as Star Wars and Game of Thrones, and authors including Robin Hobb, Terry Brooks, Pierce Brown, the list goes on. It was an amazing time in my life and I’m forever grateful of the opportunity to work on such amazing books and with such amazing colleagues. Much love and shout outs to those I rubbed elbows with.
The origins of Del Rey are, in a sense, legend (considering the imprint’s wares, appropriate). Formed in 1977 by editor Judy-Lynn Del Rey, the imprint’s humble beginnings as a paperback genre publisher focused around the novelization of a film known as Star Wars: A New Hope. Yes. Judy-Lynn then brought on her husband Lester to tackle the fantasy side of Del Rey’s genre fiction…
And thus, this latest Read Our Loud selection comes from professor Dan Sinykin and his incredible essay, The Man Who Invented Fantasy. Maybe not the birth of the genre itself, but in terms of fantasy in popular fiction and popular culture, it starts with Lester Del Rey and The Sword of Shannara by Terry Brooks. Considering where fantasy is now in culture – a mainstream genre, I find it fascinating. I hope you will as well.
Thanks for being here. And thanks for listening.
